(^158) A Wiccan Bible
To make matters just a bit easier to express, for the rest of this chapter I will pro-
vide approximate Gregorian dates for the days and months being discussed. Although
this calendar was institutionalized in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, it is still in use today.
It makes the best base point for discussion. However, when we are discussing matters
that span about 140,000 years, a calendar that is little more than 400 years old will
present a few problems. So please do not consider any of the dates given here to be set
in stone. I have already pulled out entirely too much hair trying to present this informa-
tion in an understandable way to argue the virtues and vices of using a calendar institu-
tionalized by a Catholic Pope.
The Hindu Calendar
In the Middle East, a god was associated with each of the year’s moons (each month).
The following are those gods presented with the name of the moon they are associated
with and the modern approximation. Collectively known as the Adityas, the Hindu
moon gods sometimes appear with a few alternative names. The most common are:
Ansa, Aryman, Bhaga, Daksha, Dhatri, Indra, Mitra, Ravi, Savitri, Surya, Varuna, and
Yama. Historically, the names have changed, sometimes seemingly to exchange with
the name of the month itself. Please note that the Hindu calendar begins with Chaitra
on March 22nd; however, I have arranged the months starting with the first month,
which has days in January, to relate more easily to our modern Gregorian calendar.
Winter Solstice
Pausa
Magha
Phalgum
Chaitra
Vaisakha
AsadhaJyaistha
Shravanda
Bhardra
Asvini
Kartika
Agrahayana
The Hindu Wheel of the Year
q WB Chap 09.p65 158 7/11/2003, 5:53 PM
barré
(Barré)
#1